No concession speeches just yet. Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren believes his team is still in the race, even if the polls ? uh, standings ? suggest otherwise. Thanks to a 10-game winless streak, the Flyers find themselves on the playoff bubble, and the situation got even more critical Saturday night when they lost their best player, Mike Richards, for a minimum of three weeks with a left hamstring tear.
But with still almost a fourth of the season to play, Holmgren thinks the Flyers still have time to get back in it.
He could very well back up that opinion by being a buyer between now and the 3 p.m. Tuesday NHL trade deadline.
?The other guys have to pick it up, we?re still in a dogfight here for a playoff spot,? Holmgren said in a Sunday morning telephone conversation. ?I expect our team to be better.?
The Flyers hope to get rookie Steve Downie (concussion) back for tonight?s game at Buffalo. On Sunday, they called up Jesse Boulerice from the Phantoms. Boulerice hasn?t played yet for the Flyers this year due, in part, to a 25-game suspension he had to serve for a hit on Vancouver?s Ryan Kesler back in early October.
During this slump the Flyers have made it a point to communicate. The players have met alone. The players have met with coach John Stevens. Even Holmgren got involved last Friday.
?There?s been enough talk,? Holmgren said. ?Now we simply have to act. Actions speak louder than words.?
The Flyers got within 3.7 seconds of breaking the streak Saturday night, but an indecisive clear attempt by Scott Hartnell led to Florida?s tying goal and the Panthers won in overtime.
This week offers no weak opponents: Buffalo and Ottawa, plus the Islanders and Rangers on the road.
?We have to start getting ourselves into the thick of things,? Holmgren said, ?and that?s by winning some games.?
The Flyers didn?t practice Sunday due to the Flyers Wives? Carnival at the Wachovia Center.
To say the mood is somber right now would be an understatement.
?We?ve just lost 10 games,? Holmgren said. ?Disappointment might not be strong enough. I?m beyond that. It has to change.?
Holmgren is watching all his players to see how they react under this kind of pressure. He?s the one who?s received all the praise for the masterful rebuilding job. Now he?s going to hear about it the other way if the Flyers don?t make the postseason.
Click Here!
He said in a Saturday conversation that he doesn?t believe one or two trades would have enough impact to change the direction of the team in a short timeframe.
Maybe the Flyers have been influenced by the trade deadline. Some players get jittery.
?I don?t think there?s a player in the NHL who?s not looking forward to Wednesday to find out where he?s at,? Holmgren said. ?It?s a stressful time for the players.?
Richards update
Holmgren on Richards: ?Mike initiated rehab today. Obviously he is very sore right in the middle of his muscle belly in the hamstring. He has noticeable weakness, but nothing that we didn?t expect. In terms of a time frame, we?re still looking at a minimum of three weeks, and we will see how he tolerates things over the next few days. This timeframe could change. It could be a little longer than that.?
But with still almost a fourth of the season to play, Holmgren thinks the Flyers still have time to get back in it.
He could very well back up that opinion by being a buyer between now and the 3 p.m. Tuesday NHL trade deadline.
?The other guys have to pick it up, we?re still in a dogfight here for a playoff spot,? Holmgren said in a Sunday morning telephone conversation. ?I expect our team to be better.?
The Flyers hope to get rookie Steve Downie (concussion) back for tonight?s game at Buffalo. On Sunday, they called up Jesse Boulerice from the Phantoms. Boulerice hasn?t played yet for the Flyers this year due, in part, to a 25-game suspension he had to serve for a hit on Vancouver?s Ryan Kesler back in early October.
During this slump the Flyers have made it a point to communicate. The players have met alone. The players have met with coach John Stevens. Even Holmgren got involved last Friday.
?There?s been enough talk,? Holmgren said. ?Now we simply have to act. Actions speak louder than words.?
The Flyers got within 3.7 seconds of breaking the streak Saturday night, but an indecisive clear attempt by Scott Hartnell led to Florida?s tying goal and the Panthers won in overtime.
This week offers no weak opponents: Buffalo and Ottawa, plus the Islanders and Rangers on the road.
?We have to start getting ourselves into the thick of things,? Holmgren said, ?and that?s by winning some games.?
The Flyers didn?t practice Sunday due to the Flyers Wives? Carnival at the Wachovia Center.
To say the mood is somber right now would be an understatement.
?We?ve just lost 10 games,? Holmgren said. ?Disappointment might not be strong enough. I?m beyond that. It has to change.?
Holmgren is watching all his players to see how they react under this kind of pressure. He?s the one who?s received all the praise for the masterful rebuilding job. Now he?s going to hear about it the other way if the Flyers don?t make the postseason.
Click Here!
He said in a Saturday conversation that he doesn?t believe one or two trades would have enough impact to change the direction of the team in a short timeframe.
Maybe the Flyers have been influenced by the trade deadline. Some players get jittery.
?I don?t think there?s a player in the NHL who?s not looking forward to Wednesday to find out where he?s at,? Holmgren said. ?It?s a stressful time for the players.?
Richards update
Holmgren on Richards: ?Mike initiated rehab today. Obviously he is very sore right in the middle of his muscle belly in the hamstring. He has noticeable weakness, but nothing that we didn?t expect. In terms of a time frame, we?re still looking at a minimum of three weeks, and we will see how he tolerates things over the next few days. This timeframe could change. It could be a little longer than that.?
